#tom coll

(sorry dogrel isnt here😓)

Grian Chatten x fem!reader

[requested by @bridsss]

summary: your band, ‘Munich’ had a rivalry with the Fontaines, and that lead to some chemistry between you and Grian..

word count: 2.6k

warnings: angst, fluff, intoxication, suggested smut

a/n: this took like a week longer than it was supposed to I am SO sorry.. I have a valid reason and that was seeing dead dads club and getting distracted by that all week ahah but here it is!!

It’s 2024 and your band, Munich, just released their debut album.

You had loads of hype off of social media and you had quite a large fanbase from playing at festivals and supporting big acts like Declan McKenna or Sam Fender.

There was one problem in your band's way though.

Fontaines D.C.

They were the ‘new’ upcoming band and they just released their 4th album, their biggest album yet.

Your band never got on with the Fontaines, especially after your vocalist said something negative about them in an interview.

Since then, there had been an ongoing feud between the two bands.

You were sitting with your band in the tour bus, cigarette between your fingers, on the way to a festival.

Unfortunately, Fontaines were also there.

“D’you think we’ll run into them?” Alex, the bassist from your band laughed, putting his sunglasses onto his head.

“Aye, probably get in an argument with that guitarist of there’s again.” The lead vocalist, Tadhg, smirked.

Tadhg was known for often having fights with other bands and constantly causing drama. One of these times being in an interview and saying ‘Fontaines dc fans are just trying to jump on the band wagon.’

Normally, Carlos would just ignore comments but Tadhg was constantly opening his mouth and during an award ceremony it was rumoured Tadhg was dragged out after trying to start a fistfight with the pink-haired guitarist.

You and your band got to the festival and played several hours later. Their crowd was so lively, a moshpit even starting.

During your most popular song, ‘Rearrange’, everyone sang along.

After coming off stage, you all went backstage, where some of the bands from tonight and further in the weekend were.

It was a nice setup, almost a beer garden along with a little inside sitting area.

You went to the smoking area, being without a smoke nearly all day except from when you woke up.

You were digging in your pockets for a roll up and then searched for a lighter only to realize you left it either at home or on the bus.

“Shit..” You muttered. You looked around to see if she could nab a lighter off someone and saw someone with his back turned and hood over his head place his lighter back in his pocket.

You went over to him, fully confident. “Hey.. ah- do you have a lighter I could borrow?”

He turned around and it was the least you was expecting.

Grian Chatten.

You hated each other, everyone knew it.

How it started, nobody knew. Your bands were rivals and it started a hatred between the two of you.

You had met before at the Mercury awards and couldn’t stand each other. He even had to move seats because he was sitting too close to you.

Now he was staring down at you after you just approached him acting all polite.

Without saying a word, he passed you his lighter and you lit your cigarette.

As you gave the lighter back, he started speaking.

“So, good show?”

That caught you off guard, why was he speaking?

“Uh, yeah, yeah thanks.” You muttered.

“Listen- uhh.. about our little.. it’s nothing personal, yeah?” He said, bringing his cigarette to his mouth.

“Oh no, it is personal. I don’t know why you're even speaking to me. The way you talk about my band.” You spat.

He raised his hands in defence. “Fine. Be like that.”

You let out a sharp laugh. “Be like what? Be annoyed that you think it’s okay to slag my band off and then try to give me a half assed apology? Grow up.”

He rolled his eyes as you turned a heel and walked off.

The next day came, it was now Fontaines headlining and your band were backstage, trying to avoid the show completely.

You told your bandmates about the encounter with Grian, they all laughed.

“Next you’ll be falling in love with him.” Will, your drummer, joked around, making the whole group burst out in laughter.

“As if!” You laughed, placing your hands against your thighs. “I wouldn’t be caught dead thinking about that prick.”

“Plus, he’s always so pissy.” Tadhg sneered.

After that, you couldn’t stop thinking about Grian. The same sentence repeated in your head.

“Next you’ll be falling in love with him.”

You knew there was a valid reason to hate him, given the past remarks he had made about your band and his attitude in general but there was something about him.

You tried shrugging it off, but it wouldn’t stop.

The confidence he had sometimes irritated you. You tried distracting yourself by talking with your band and hearing other bands.

You broke out your daydream when you started hearing shouting from your lead again.

As soon as you heard Tadhg’s voice, you whipped your head around. Your eyes landed on the Fontaines, a mixture of annoyance and excitement washing over you.

“Here we go..” You muttered, rolling your eyes.

“Ahhh!! The dickheads themselves!”

Grian straightened up, arms crossed as he leant across the wall.

“Tadhg, shut up.” You hissed, shooting him a warning glare.

He ignored you, obviously and started shouting at Carlos.

Carlos wasn’t having it, they started a fight quite quickly.

The tension in the air was thick while Tom and Curley attempted to calm down Carlos, who seemed to be getting more and more irritated with Tadhg by the second meanwhile, Will and Alex tried to hold back Tadhg, who was clearly enjoying winding up Carlos.

You sat there behind them all, feeling like a child stuck in a family argument.

You couldn’t take it anymore so you took off, maybe behind the walls of the area, just so they couldn’t come find you.

As you went to leave, you noticed Grian staring.

Your stomach twisted and you walked off, going behind a wall so nobody would interrupt you but you heard fast footsteps behind you.

“Oi.” Grian said while catching up with you, forcing eye contact. “We need to talk.”

“About what?”

Grian was taken back by the blunt response you had given him but recovered quickly, speaking quietly so nobody would overhear. “About this whole back and forth thing between our bands. It’s getting ridiculous, don’t you think?”

“You’re the ridiculous one here. Why are you acting innocent?” You crossed your arms, eyes narrowing.

He scoffed, clearly not used to being called out like that. “You’re one to talk. You’re right there, all the time, encouraging Tadhg’s bullshit.”

“Encouraging him?!”

“Don’t act so innocently yourself.” He said, letting out a dry laugh. “You know fully well that you’re by his side every single time he causes a scene.” He stepped closer. “You’re as involved in this ‘feud’ as he is.”

“I’m sorry?!” You scoffed.

“You’re in denial.” He raised his voice. “You stand there looking all pretty and pure while Tadhg has another meltdown!”

You were getting pissed off and frustrated now. Your eyes were filled with tears. “Don’t start.”

“No wonder you run away everytime! You always encourage him and then act like a saint!” After he spoke, he noticed the tears in the corner of your eyes, dripping down your cheeks. His expression faltered, taking a step forward. “Hey.. don’t-“ He then took a step back. “I didn’t mean to..”

“Why do you care?!” You snapped.

Why did he care? He was supposed to be the arrogant and cocky prick who didn’t care about anyone but himself but now he was standing here feeling guilty about making you cry.

He let out a sigh. “I don’t know. I just don’t like seeing you like this.”

“The reason I run away is because I fucking hate arguments, Grian! That’s why I ran away!”

“Oh, so you hate arguments but you’re standing here screaming and shouting at me?” He raised his voice again but then they both stood in silence for a little while until Grian took a step forward again. “Hey- look at me.”

You hesitated, biting back a sob and he instinctively wrapped his arms around you.

“How about we go to the pub down the road, it’s not too far and I'm sure if I buy you a drink it would cheer you up.”

The offer was a surprise. You looked up at him, tears stopping. “A drink..?” You thought for a few seconds, guarded and skeptical, but his tone was softer now. “Alright, I suppose a few drinks wouldn’t hurt.”

You both got to the pub, it was only a 30 minute walk from the backstage bar. As the hours passed, the alcohol loosened your senses. You and Grian were telling stories from the past and the walls were crumbling. Your bandmates completely slipped your mind.

“My band is probably searching for me.”

Grian laughed lightly. “Yeah, probably tearing their hair out wondering where you vanished to.” He took a sip of his drink. “Let ‘em wonder.”

He leaned in slightly, you could smell the alcohol and smoke on him. “So, does this mean we’re no longer enemies?”

“Don’t go so far..” You laughed.

Grian dramatically placed a hand on his chest and smiled. “Aww. Alright. Not enemies then.. maybe.. hmm.. volatile friends..?”

“Volatile friends- what?”

“I couldn’t think of a word.”

“Well, if we’re not friends.. but we’re not enemies.. maybe we could be more than that..?” You joked, without a thought behind it.

Grian almost choked on his drink. His eyes widened in surprise and he coughed a few times before finally composing himself, trying to see if you were joking or not.

“More than that..?” He repeated. “Are you- you’re not serious right? You’re joking.”

You shrugged, smiling slightly. “People say I'm off the hook.”

Grian laughed, shaking his head. “Off the hook? Aha. You’re mental.”

As they exchanged another glance, a member of staff came over, warning them that the pub was about to shut. He glanced at you, then the bartender.

“Right.” He muttered. “Guess that’s our cue.”

You both left the pub, not knowing where to go next.

Grian ran a hand through his hair. “Well, my tour bus isn’t far. We can hang out there for a bit.” He then glanced, smiling. “Unless you’d go back and face Tadhg’s shit.”

“First off, leave him alone, he’s like a brother to me. Second. Sure. Let’s go to your bus.”

Grian nodded. “Right.. yeah.. sorry. Let’s head off then.”

As you both arrived at the bus, it was empty.

“Looks like we’re the first ones back.” He opened the door, letting you in first.

“That’s a good thing innit? I’m guessing Carlos wouldn’t enjoy my company and he’d go completely off his head.”

Grian snorted as he stepped in behind you, closing the door. “True, Carlos would absolutely lose it. Then again, Tadhg would too, so we’re both kinda fucked in a way.”

He bent down to a mini fridge tucked into the corner of the bus. “Want another drink?”

“Sure. Why not.”

He threw a drink at you and you both cracked them open. You sat down on the bottom of a bunk bed, she looked around to see Grian’s lyrics, clothes and cups by the bottom of the bed.

“So.. about your bandmates. They won’t freak out if you stay for long will they?” He asked, sipping his drink.

“I can stay a while. It’s fine.”

A smirk appeared on his face. “A while? You enjoy my company?”

You shrugged, moving up so he could fit on the bed too.

He sat down, the smirk becoming more and more apparent. “Are you sure about staying? I don’t think we can play off this ‘rivalry’ any longer.”

You didn’t say a word. You leant into his chest and for a second he froze. His arm lifted, draping over your shoulders

“Did you mean what you said about us?” You looked up at him.

His expression softened. “Which part?”

“All of it.”

Grian looked down at his lap, messing with a loose thread of his shorts.

“I can’t stand Tadhg. He’s an annoying prick.” He said softly, not meeting your gaze. “But I didn’t mean everything. You’re all alright.”

“Even Alex and Will?” You tilted your head.

Grian scoffed. “Especially Alex and Will. Sound lads.”

“And me?”

Grian hesitated. It was one thing to admit he actually didn’t hate your band, but he spent so long convincing himself he hated you, saying the opposite felt wrong. “You’re alright.”

You nodded, disappointed flashing in your face.

Grian’s eyebrows furrowed. He noticed the disappointment. He shifted until he faced you fully, arm still draped over your shoulders.

“Why do you look insulted?” He asked. “Did you want me to say something else?”

“No-”

“Bullshit.” He muttered. “You can’t lie for shit.”

You were both silent for a few seconds, before he leant in and gave you a kiss. He pulled back with a single breath muttering something.

You smiled, looking down at his lips before leaning in again and kissing him gently.

Grian’s chest tightened and self control was now dead as he couldn’t stop kissing you, his fingers wrapped in your hair.

Grian leant back against the mattress with you in his arms, his pulse heavy in his ears as he held you close.

You were kissing his neck until marks showed up and the effect of the alcohol left adrenaline.

The both of you were either gonna regret this later or get worth out of it.

Next thing, Grian’s eyes opened and he felt weirdly warm. He looked down and realised you were the reason.

His arm was wrapped around your waist and your legs were wedged just between his.

The sound of the door clicking open brought Grian back to reality. He glanced at his phone to see the time was 11pm.

His band was back.

He woke you up, telling you they were back and to stay in the room for a little while.

He slowly made his way out the room, closing the sliding door as quietly as possible.

His bandmates, friends and even Chilli Jesson were all sat on the sofa, chatting amongst themselves as they took jackets and accessories off.

Carlos noticed Grian first. “Jaysus, Grian. About time you showed up.”

Grian put his hand on the back of his neck, trying to play it off. “I just fell asleep, alright?”

“Fell asleep? Is that why those marks are on your neck?” Carlos teased, pointing to the fading bruises on Grian’s neck.

Grian froze. The other guys started giggling and snickering to themselves.

“Someone’s gotten busy, hm?” Deego spoke up.

“Fine. I met a girl.” Grian muttered.

The bus erupted in cheers and whistles.

“A girl? And you were so eager to hide it?” Carlos teased.

Curley smiled from the sofa. “Who’s the lucky one then?”

“She’s.. in there.” He glanced at the bedroom.

Another set of ‘ooooh’ s came from everyone.

Grian walked into the room, shutting the door quickly behind him.

You put your phone down after being on call with Will. “I have to go.”

Grian took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “I-”

“How do I leave without your band seeing me?”

“Don’t worry. They’re just being nosy assholes.” Grian said, cheeks going walm.

“Fuck it. Let them know.”

Grian’s eyes widened. “What..? Really?”

You didn’t reply.

Grian then walked out the room first.

“Well?” Carlos called out, nudging Deego beside him who also had a massive smirk on his face. Tom and Curley were pretending not to eavesdrop in.

You walked out behind him, feeling them all stare at you in silence and shock.

Tom was the first to speak. “Jesus Christ.”

You had to go, now, you had no time for this. You quickly put your heels on and left the bus.

Carlos spoke up. His face was a mix of annoyance and disbelief.

“Are you fucking serious?!” His voice was sharp. “You play into this ‘feud’ and you spend every interview trying to find ways to jab at them and now you’re what.. running off behind our backs to shag her?”

Grian Chatten x female reader

Just a little Grian thing since I am on holiday and got inspired for like 5 minutes.

Light breeze tousling her hair, the warm wind caressed her cheeks and her sunburnt shoulders, pulling the sheet around her chest a little tighter while he pressed his lips on hers for the millionth time, smiling through the kisses as he mumbled sweet nothings.

Getting up from the sunbed they shared, he walked over to the tiny table, his own sheet tied around his waist. A cigarette soon between his lips, he looked like the most pefect mix of angelic and demonic while he lit it, the early sunrise looming behind him and the sea sparkling brighter with every passing second along with his jewellery.

"Wish I could take a picture of this," she softly whispered and smiled, him turning his eyes towards her and then smiling back while taking a ridiculous pose, causing her to laugh.

"Way to ruin the moment," she shook her head, him only mumbling with the cigarette still hanging between his lips, "I've got a knack for that."

"Dumbass," she chuckled while rolling her eyes, his arms soon around her again.

"This is so nice," he whispered, "I wish we wouldn't have to go back."

Her heart speeding up, she didn't know whether she should ask the question on her mind. The question that had been falling to the back of her conciousness when the days were busy and the nights beside him were blissful, only to resurface the solemn moments her mind had no distractions – in the shower while washing off the sand along with old sunscreen, in the darkness while he had already fallen asleep, on the beach while trying to read that one book her mind couldn't stay focused on.

What will happen once they go back?

Back to friends in gloomy London, the chemistry between them always there and never addressed, now dismissed once it had been explored?

She didn't know the answer to that, didn't know if he felt the same as her. She didn't want to believe Grian to be like that, to be someone who would treat her as a meaningless holiday romance after knowing each other for years, but her burns from the past made her cautious.

Made her a "glass always half empty" person when it came to romance, even if she tried her best not to succumb to any doomsday scenarios.

She didn't even know how they ended up the way that they did, their flirtacious attraction always there, but neither of them ever making a move, not even during their most drunken parties or the moments all of their friends drifted off during their get togethers and left them by their lonesome.

He always looked at her with that sparkle in his eyes, with a look that was a little restless, like he wanted to say something and always decided not to address whatever that was that was on his mind. And she always tried to make it look like she was clueless, as if she never noticed his eyes on her or their friends' playful looks whenever they interacted.

She just couldn't afford something like that, couldn't afford to even entertain an idea of him while knowing that her heart and their friendship would be on the line.

But something changed during this holiday, his eyes on her more intense ever since they arrived in this Spanish villa with their friend group, sometimes burning her skin even more than the southern Sun.

And then, a night at the local bar and tequila shots that she truly hated.

"The last time I had tequila I think I was 18 and got the biggest alcohol poisoning and hangover of my entire life," she announced to him, reluctant to be the only one joining him for the drinks.

"I'll make it sweet, I promise," he only answered, already receiving two tiny glasses from the bartender.

Shaking her head, she gave in, salt on her tongue and alcohol soon burning her throat, the lime she had expected to purify her palate suddenly gone from between her fingers. With a split second, he sucked the tiny wedge between his lips, the said lips then on hers, the taste of salt and lime still prevalent on the tip of his tongue.

"I told you I'd make it sweet," he whispered, her knees weak and her mind confused.

But she didn't ask any questions, the prospect of what this could be right then and there far more exciting than questioning whether this was something that they should be doing at all.

He spent the night in her room and every night that followed, enjoying each other and admiring the sunrise, him quietly slipping back to his own bed early in the morning in order to avoid too many curious looks from their friends while they both knew that everybody knew.

Only a few days left in this villa, the mundanity of everyday reality began to seem imminent, the question of what will happen once they go back still on her mind while she laid there, between his arms on this old sunbed on the balcony of her room.

"Does Grian really mean the Sun in old Irish?" she whispered while staring into the horizon, the rising Sun barely above it and everything around them still silent.

He laughed lightly, over how adorable the question was, snaking his arms around her a little tighter.

"That's what they've been telling me."

She looked up at him, intertwining her fingers with his and smiling, "I think it suits you perfectly."

Without a word, he smiled back, his heart wanting to burst in his chest. After years and years, all this seemed to be too perfect, too good to be let go of and not take the chance.

"Come to Primavera with me," he whispered into her ear, his lips then softly landing on her cheek.

"Primavera? I didn't know you guys had any gigs this soon."

"We don't," he explained, "I'm just going. The guys from Kneecap invited me, so I might make a small appearance. But other than that I'm just going to have good time and I think it would be a lot better if you came with me."

Her heart slowly speeding up again, she knew that this was the moment to play with open cards.

Sitting up between his legs, she turned herself to face him, securing the blanket that was engulfing the both of them.

"I don't want to play dumb, Grian," she then stated, gathering all her courage, "But I also don't want to get hurt. I want to know what this is before we leave this place."

Already expecting something like this, he couldn't help but to smile, placing his hands on her cheeks as he stared into her eyes.

"It's not obvious?"

"What's not obvious?"

"That I've been pining for you for years," he chuckled, a small smile appearing in the corner of her lips.

"Pining for me?" she rolled her eyes and laughed, almost as if she was a little embarrassed, "That sounds just a tad bit overdramatic."

"What can I say, I'm a poet," he shrugged, causing her to laugh again.

"A shy poet, who took five years to make a move."

"Why so long?" she then questioned, almost shyly, as if she was afraid of what the answer might be.

"Because.." he contemplated for a moment, looking for words, "Because I know that you don't take these things lightly. And I wanted to be sure that I would actually be in the right headspace to pursue you the way you deserve. The last few years have been absolute chaos when it comes to my everyday life. I would never put our friendship on the line if I felt that there wasn't more to gain than what we already have. And I feel like there is a lot to gain."